Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times tells the story of Mariners fan Dave Hope, who was stunned to see his season-ticket price plan go up $692 when he got his bill this month.

When the Mariners sent out a mass email renewal letter to season-ticket holders, they said nothing about increasing prices. Season-ticket packages climbed as much as 7 percent in certain areas of the ballpark, and partial packages were up as high as 11 percent. However, some less desirable seats actually had their ticket prices cut by three percent.

Huh? What? It would have been remarkably easy to show on a map. In fact, that’s exactly what you should have done.

In their defense, Mariners tickets are still better priced than most. Still, the team has finished in last place three straight year, attendance has declined five straight years and payroll has dropped four straight years. A price hike is going to be a very tough sell.

Wow, such negative thinking. They finished ahead of 5 AL teams (6 if you count the Astros) and were in the thick of the playoff picture well into June. And they were host to 3 no-hitters. And they finally got rid of that Ichiro guy, who never once hit even .400. What more could you ask for?

That’s what I would think. Now I’m no economics major but I would think that if they lowered some prices maybe it would attract more people to come which would make them more money. Its certainly a risk but potentially a boon. Wonder if any team in any of sport has tried this approach and what the results were.

As long as Chuck Armstrong and Howard Lincoln continue to have anything to do with the organization, this team goes nowhere, as has been the case for almost two decades. Fans who continue to spend money to fill the seats to watch a less than mediocre product year in and year out deserve what they get. And that ownership is raising ticket prices at all is a glaring example of their arrogance and indifference to those who want to remain loyal to the M’s. I look forward to the day we have a new facility for professional basketball and hockey right next door to the Mariner’s stadium. We deserve better.

I mean, now Brendan “Mendoza, baby!” Ryan has a chance to pop one over the center field fence, at least two, maybe three times in a season. That’s worth, what? at least an additional $4-$5 per ticket, wouldn’t you say?